Holy hogs! S.A.’s Bandidos on History Channel

San Antonio’s notorious Bandidos will be featured on the History Channel at 8 tonight.

Collister

So will WOAI-TV investigative reporter Brian Collister.

No, Brian is not a member of the legendary motorcycle gang that used to send shivers up my spine as far back as my teenage years here.

Collister may seem dangerous when he aims that camera at some city, school or consumer infraction. In real life, though, he’s a pussycat  and dad of three, including a new infant son named Cody.

History was interested in Collister because of a story he did for News 4 some months back that involved hanging out with members of the Bandidos. Footage from that story and an interview with Collister will be part of tonight’s “Gangland”  a series on History Channel that examines the most violent and influential gangs of our time.

“The episode (‘Bandido Army’) will focus on the murder of boxer Robert Quiroga by former Bandido Richard Merla,” Collister said.

Sounds frightening. However, the half-hour also may dispel some myths about the Bandidos. They’re not just ruffians out to do everyone harm, Collister said. “Some are just good ol’ boys who like to ride bikes,” he said.

What? That destroys the scary image my sister and I built up every time we thought we spotted one, complete with ponytail, leather gear and tattoos, on a chopper way back when.

As the stupid young girls that we were, we loved to think we were in fear for our lives  that one day, we may even be victims, snatched up and taken to some cave.

Ah, teenage fantasies. In any event, if you miss tonight’s showing, it repeats at midnight Saturday and at 3 p.m. Oct. 26.

Hmm. Wonder if City Councilwoman Lourdes Galvan will be watching. According to a column by E-N’s Ken

Rodriguez back in the spring, Galvan issued a certificate to a local chapter of the gang honoring the guys for their charitable works.